
Clarification
UK organisations can (currently) apply for Horizon Europe funding. They can't sign agreements until after the association process is concluded.
This means that we are not only mucking up (anyone think of a better leading consonant?) UK research but also that of other partners in the EU. If we do agree an association deal in 6 months, we'll have right royally annoyed any potential partners who'll say "non", "nein", "nee", "nu", "nej", etc. At this point we get to pay in (cos of the association agreement commitment) and won't get anything out (cos we've narked everyone off).
The advantage of having 2 feet is that after having shot yourself in one, you can have a go at the other too.